PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Emilio Todd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and RikI Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machida has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Todd
vs
Machida

156 cm
19
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
185 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Emilio Todd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, RikI Machida!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yukihiro Shimada and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Todd is looking to clinch but Machida is avoiding it.
Machida looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Todd has closed the distance and engaged Machida in a clinch.
Machida is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Todd is keeping busy.

Todd manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Todd had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Machida defends it easily.

Todd uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Todd drives through and clinches with Machida against the cage.

Todd wants the takedown. Machida is fighting it off but Todd persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Machida's guard against the cage.
Todd throwing strikes but missing.
Todd in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Machida working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Todd.
Todd tries to stand but Machida is controlling from the bottom.
Machida controls Todd momentarily but Todd frees himself.
Machida wants to stand up but Todd is controlling him.
Todd wants to stand but Machida is controlling his posture from full guard.
Todd lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Todd is looking to stand up but Machida won't let him.
Todd with a nice head shot there.
Todd might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Todd postures up.
Todd really is a fat lump.
Todd throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Machida works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Todd has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Todd is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Todd wants to get up but he can't break Machida's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Todd keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Machida's head.
Todd keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Machida's head.
Todd wants to stand but Machida is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida trying to keep a closed guard but Todd is proving a slippery customer.
Todd postures up and lands a big shot to Machida's brow.
Todd trying to stand up but can't free himself from Machida's guard.
Todd knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Machida on the ground.
Machida trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Todd keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Machida's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida working a defensive guard here.
Todd is looking to stand up but Machida won't let him.
Todd with a nice head shot there.

Machida is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Todd defends well.
Todd postures up in Machida's guard and throws a big left but Machida blocks it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Machida is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Todd would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emilio Todd dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Todd gets tackled into the cage by Machida. Machida maintains the clinch.

Todd turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Todd looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Machida is avoiding damage well.
Todd connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Machida some visible discomfort.
Todd fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Todd tries to score with some ground and pound. Machida controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Todd looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Machida is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Todd decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Todd tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Machida manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Todd forces Machida back against the cage and clinches.
Todd fails to pull guard.
Todd jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Machida walks away with a smile on his face. Todd gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
RikI Machida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Todd moves into the clinch.

Todd breaks from the clinch.
Todd moves in looking to clinch but Machida pushes him off.
Todd swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Machida counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Todd throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Machida swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Todd is looking to clinch but Machida is avoiding it.

Todd closes the distance and pushes Machida back into the cage.
Todd tries to pull guard but Machida holds him up against the cage and eventually Todd drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Emilio Todd. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Todd has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Machida uses from the top position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Todd wants to stand up but Machida is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Todd looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

We're going to have a standup here because Emilio Todd wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Todd slips under a jab from Machida.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Todd has Machida up against the cage in a clinch.

Todd successfully pulls guard.
Machida trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Todd looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Machida forces his way into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Machida is pressing down on Todd's thigh, looking to free his foot. Todd is holding on for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emilio Todd dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Todd is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Todd rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Machida moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Todd tries to clinch up but Machida circles away and keeps his distance.
Todd is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Todd tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Machida manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Todd misses with a jab, cross combination.
Machida takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Machida moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Todd manages to pull guard.

Todd is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Machida defends well.
Machida trying to control but Todd is working from the bottom.
Machida in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
My spies in Tokyo Totally Gym + Sauna inform me that Machida has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Machida stops Todd from standing up.
Todd controlling the position.
Machida content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Todd wants to sweep here but Machida controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Todd wants to stand up but Machida is controlling him.
Todd is trying to control the position from the bottom.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Machida is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Todd tries to clinch there but Machida circles away.
Todd tries to clinch but Machida is having none of it.

Machida moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Todd jumps into guard, dragging Machida to the mat.
Machida trying to control the position from guard on top but Todd is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Machida drops back looking for a leg! Todd is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Todd manages to kick Machida off! Machida jumps back into Todd's guard.
Todd not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Machida working some strikes from top position.

Todd looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Todd controlling Machida's posture.
Todd wants to get back to his feet but Machida is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Todd is wriggling around but Machida manages to pass to half guard.
Machida moves nicely into side control.
RikI Machida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Emilio Todd is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Todd is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Machida is controlling him well.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Emilio Todd.
Well Todd has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Emilio Todd!